BBB Major Requirements

A student must have 36 total credit units to graduate with a degree in BBB. The major requires 18.5 credit units. Each major will be required to take all 10.5 credit units of the core requirements. Students can then take any eight (8) credit units from the approved course offerings. Most courses are offered only once each academic year. It is therefore imperative that majors plan at least one year ahead to be sure to complete the BBB requirements. Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in courses taken to fulfill the major requirements. BBB majors must have a minimum of 5 courses that they count only towards the BBB major and not also towards another a major or minor. Students are encouraged to pursue independent research for credit (BBB 399) during their junior or senior year.

Students may use BBB LPS courses to fulfill BBB requirements but may not be able to apply LPS credits from other departments towards the BBB major. Students considering taking LPS classes through other departments should meet with a BBB advisor before registering for more information.

To graduate with a major in BBB, students must complete the College Foundational and Sector Requirements, and BBB major requirements, and a total of 36 credits. Non-College coursework is limited to one or two courses. Students considering non-College courses (e.g. courses in Nursing, Healthcare Management, Legal Studies, Marketing, Fine Arts) should consult with an Advising Dean about their total credit requirements.

Modification of Requirements

Course substitutions are not encouraged and must be brought to the attention of the Director or Associate Director. If such a petition is granted, it is the student's responsibility to ensure the exception is entered on their Penn-In-Touch worksheet. Any modification in the requirements (e.g. course substitutions) must be requested by the student no later than the first semester of their junior year.

Credit Away

Pre-approval is required for any courses taken at another university or during study abroad programs. To count courses towards the major, students must contact the Director or Associate Director for pre-approval. No credit will be considered after completion of a course taken elsewhere.

Declaring the Major

Students are encouraged to declare the major when they are in their sophomore year, before selecting their courses for the Fall semester of their Junior year. All students wishing to declare the BBB major must have successfully completed, or be currently enrolled in, BBB 109: Introduction to Brain and Behavior. Students should meet with their College Advisor to have their Penn InTouch worksheet updated and made official. Students must then complete the Major Declaration Worksheet and come to the BBB Office during advising hours to declare the major.

BBB Elective Courses (8 c.u.)

Elective courses for the BBB major include all BBB courses as well as selected courses in other majors that directly relate to, or are pre-requisites for, advanced study of neuroscience. Because the BBB major does not include specific concentrations, students may choose any 8 of the following courses. However, students are encouraged to choose 200- and 300-level courses that will prepare them for more advanced work that they wish to pursue.

Freshman Seminars

BIBB 030 - Neurobiology of Brain DisordersBIBB 040 - Sleep: What is it, why do we need it, and how can we get more? (Students taking BIBB 040 may not also count BIBB 240 towards the major.)BIBB 050 - Forensic NeuroscienceBIBB 060 - Music and the Brain

Graduate Level Courses

Students interested in taking graduate level courses for BBB credit should consult with the Director or Associate Director. A link to current neuroscience graduate course listings may be found at http://www.med.upenn.edu/ins/ngg.html.

* Students may not be able to apply LPS credits (-601 sections) from other departments towards the BBB major. Students considering taking LPS classes through other departments should meet with a BBB advisor before registering for more information.

# All students must take two semesters to count toward the major. Only two credit units of physics may be counted toward the major. The lab portion of this course (1 c.u.) may be used to satisfy general SAS elective requirements